WA health chief Dr Peter Flett resigns with regret

THE West Australian government was in shock last night after the state’s highest paid public servant, respected health chief Peter Flett, quit after being criticised by Treasurer Troy Buswell.
Dr Flett said his position was untenable, although he refused to confirm that Mr Buswell’s comments were the final straw.
The health department has been struggling [...]

Swine flu kills by lung injury: study

WASHINGTON: People who die of swine flu contract a “rapidly fatal” form of the disease and tend to die of lung injury, although it strikes different people in different ways, an autopsy study has found.
Researchers in Brazil examined 21 patients aged one to 68 who died in Sao Paulo with (A)H1N1 infections in [...]

Surgery payment scheme at risk

THE ability of patients to claim a Medicare rebate directly from the doctor’s surgery is under threat within months of it starting to catch on, as medical groups are warning that GPs will abandon the practice unless incentive payments are extended.
The peak doctor’s lobby, the Australian Medical Association, is calling for an existing [...]